Axel Cahlin reaches 5000 run milestone
Gordon District Cricket Club | February 10, 2026
Axel Cahlin, Gordon’s first grade captain and the third youngest Gordon player to make his first grade debut has reached the 5000 runs milestone in the 2026 season. At the time of writing this article Axel had scored 5,233 runs in First Grade at an average of 30.25 and 6,521 runs in all grades at an average of 30.47.
Axels first grade debut was in the T20 team in March 2014. He started in second grade the following season and after scoring 295 runs in the first two rounds he was promoted to first grade to play against Manly at Chatswood Oval.
Axel who turned 16 in March 2014 in the same month he played two T20 matches follows only Ken Eastwood at 15 years and 11 months as the second youngest to play first grade for the club.
Axel played his first game with Gordon as a 14 year old in Colts on October 6, 2012, and scored 74 runs in his debut after being recommended to the club to take advantage of our original Academy program. Combining his school cricket and study, he played with our Green Shield team and intermittent games in fourth and fifth grade finishing the year in the successful fifth grade premiership team. In his first game in fourth grade, ironically against Manly, he scored 59 not out in a 128 run partnership for the 8th wicket with Shayne Lin to win the match.
In 2013, Axel captained our Green Shield team and played a masterful innings in our final round match scoring 148 not out with 17 fours and 3 sixes off 156 balls. In total he scored 786 runs for the season including several solid innings in 5th, 4th and 3rd grade. Axel was also in the NSW Under 17 squad for the Australian Under 17 Championships in January that year.
His breakout moment came in the final round of 2014-15: 148 not out with 17 fours and 3 sixes off 156 balls against challenging bowling. The innings included timing, placement, and shot selection that would become his trademarks, while also revealing the temperament required for consistent performance. The 2017-18 season brought Axel's greatest achievement: 971 runs at 51.11, breaking Craig Simmons' club aggregate record that had stood since 2007. His season included three centuries with a highest score of 135*, demonstrating his high conversion rate. This achievement was special considering his age; still in his teens yet dominating seasoned grade cricket bowler’s week after week. The record required not just talent but mental fortitude and physical stamina to maintain such standards across an entire season.
In 2026, Axel is now 11th overall in first grade runs being only 52 runs behind Club president Michal Cant and looking to a successful finish to the season.
